How to plan a trip

18 Easy Steps for Planning Your Next Trip

Last Updated: 6/16/22 | June 16th, 2022

I remember when I started planning my first trip around the world. I had no idea what I was doing.

When I decided to quit my job and travel the world, I walked into a bookstore and bought Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on Shoestring. Buying that guidebook was my first step toward long-term travel. It made the trip seem more real, more tangible. It made it all seem possible.

While helpful, the book didn’t exactly prepare me for planning a trip around the world. Back then, there weren’t really travel blogs, sharing economy websites, and apps like there are today. I was excited and determined — but I was lost. I had to figure it out as I went, hoping I didn’t miss anything important.

Trip planning can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? What’s step two? What’s step three?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before — and especially considering just how much information there is out there these days. Blogs, social media, and guidebooks have never been more plentiful. There’s a firehose of information out there that can sometimes make the task of planning a trip even more challenging and overwhelming.

After a decade of traveling the world, I’ve planned countless trips and vacations for myself, friends, family, and even group tours. In the beginning, it was trial by fire and I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. However, that helped me develop an efficient checklist that ensures I don’t miss anything important during the trip planning process.

After all, I don’t want to get to my next destination and then realize I forgot something. And neither do you!

There is a lot of information on this website (and even more information packed into my book), but one question that comes up frequently is, “Matt, how do I put this all together? How do I plan a trip?”

In a continuing effort to help you get out the door and into the world, I’ve created this step-by-step guide on how to plan a trip. It works for any kind of trip and no matter how long you’re going for! Just follow this checklist and you’ll be off in no time!

Table of Contents

Step 1: Decide Where You Want To Go
Step 2: Decide the Length of Your Trip
Step 3: Will you Travel Solo?
Step 4: Research Your Costs
Step 5: Start Saving Money
Step 6: Get a Travels Rewards Credit Card
Step 7: Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards
Step 8: Stay Focused and Inspired
Step 9: Check for Last-Minute Deals
Step 10: Book Your Flight
Step 11: Book Your Accommodation
Step 12: Plan Your Activities
Step 13: Sell Your Stuff
Step 14: Automate Your Bills
Step 15: Tell Your Card Companies You’re Traveling
Step 16: Pack!
Step 17: Buy Travel Insurance
Step 18: Enjoy Your Trip

If you want to jump ahead, simply click on any of the links above.

Step 1: Decide Where You Want To Go

Defining where you want to go sets a goal to work toward. A lot of people talk vaguely about travel. They never say where they are going, just that they are going. Picking a destination is immensely important, as it gives you a definite goal.

It’s a lot easier to mentally get behind “I am going to Paris in the summer” than “I’m going to Europe” or “I’m going somewhere.” Not only will your trip become more concrete for you and easier to commit to, but it will make planning easier as well…because you know what to work towards. Get specific with your plans. Get detailed. The more focused and concrete your goal, the easier it will be to actually reach it.

Resources for picking your travel destination:

Step 2: Decide the Length of Your Trip

How much does it cost to travel? That depends!

Without knowing how long you’re going away for, I can’t answer that question. And it’s a question you need to answer so you can start planning!

In order to figure out how much you need to save you’ll need to know how long your trip will be.

Are you going away for a week? A month? A year?

The length of your trip is a huge factor in determining how much money you need. Spend some time mulling that over until you have your answer.

For example, after you say “I’m going to Paris this summer,” add “for X days.” That way you can start to narrow down just how much money you’re going to need to save. “I am going to Paris for 10 days” is a trip that you can plan for. It’s an attainable goal.

Step 3: Will You Travel Solo or Go With Someone?

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is whether you’re going to go alone or travel with someone. Both are great options — but they are decidedly different choices too.

Traveling solo gives you the freedom to go anywhere you want. No compromising. You just go wherever the wind takes you! However, it means you have to do all the planning yourself — which can seem daunting if you’re new to trip planning.

Traveling with someone means you have someone to help plan the trip with you. It will make researching your itinerary faster and you’ll have someone to spend time with on the road. However, it also means you’ll need to compromise sometimes. Perhaps on meals or activities or accommodation. It will just depend on you and the person you travel with.

At the end of the day, there is no wrong answer.

Personally, I love the freedom of solo travel. But I’ve had some incredible trips with friends too. Chances are you’ll get to do both over the years. But for now, what is this trip going to be? Solo or with someone?

Step 4: Research Your Costs

So you know where you’re going and how long you’ll be there, but to really nail down how much money you need, your next task is to research the costs in your destination at the style of travel you want.

Do you want to backpack, or would you rather stay in luxury hotels?

How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants, and attractions?

Knowing will allow you to estimate how much money you’ll need for your trip. Here is how to research costs:

You don’t need to do more than that. There’s so much information on the web that if you go down the rabbit hole of overplanning, you’ll get lost and confused by the firehose of information. Stick to those four things and you’ll be set!

Here are some other insightful posts that will help you better estimate your costs:

Step 5: Start Saving Money

Before you can start saving money, you need to know how much you have and how much you’re spending. Start to write down all your current expenses so you can determine where you are spending money — and how you can cut back.

People bleed a lot of money every day through small purchases: a coffee here, a snack there. All of that adds up. In order to make changes to your spending habits, you first need to understand them. Making a list will do just that. It will also put your financial needs into a better perspective.

If you’re struggling to save money, here are 23 ways to cut your expenses and save money for travel. This will help you get started and on the road to saving money in no time!

Step 6: Get a Travels Rewards Credit Card

While you’re working to save money, get a travel credit card so you can earn sign-up bonuses to redeem miles and points for free flights and hotel stays. Collecting points and miles from travel credit cards is how I get tons of free flights, free hotel stays, and free travel perks every single year — and without any extra spending too!

These days, most cards have welcome offers of up to 50,000 points when you meet their minimum spending requirement. That’s enough miles for a free flight almost anywhere in the world!

If you want a free flight, sign up for the cards that help with that. If you want free hotel rooms, get a hotel card. Either way, sign up for a travel credit card and start earning points today. As long as you can pay off your monthly balance, you’ll get free travel credit.

You don’t need to sign up for very many cards either; pick one or two and focus on those. Do this the moment you decide you want to travel. Don’t wait — waiting equals lost miles, which means less free travel.

Collecting points and miles (which is called “travel hacking”) is what all the experts do to cut their costs and travel longer. It’s what has kept my costs down and me on the road for so many years. While the best cards are only available in the US, there are still plenty of options for Canadians as well as folks from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

For more information on travel hacking and travel credit cards, check out these posts:

Step 7: Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards

Once you’re abroad, you;re going to need money. While many countries will accept credit cards, in the majority of countries cash is still king. That means you’ll need to use ATMs to withdraw the local currency. And that also means you’re going to get dinged by ATM fees.

If you’re just away for a week or two, paying a few dollars in ATM fees isn’t the end of the world. But if you’re away for a longer period, those fees will add up and chew into your travel budget — a budget you’ve worked hard to grow. Don’t give banks any of your hard-earned money.

How? By using a no-fee ATM card.

I use Charles Schwab, but there are lots of other banks (don’t forget to check your local banks) that don’t charge ATM fees. Additionally, you can join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance.

By using a no-fee ATM card you can avoid those pesky ATM fees, leaving you more money for what it was intended for: travel

Step 8: Stay Focused and Inspired

While you get closer to your goal, make sure that you keep feeding your desire to travel. Travel planning can be exhausting and overwhelming — especially if you don’t have support from your friends and family (and especially if your trip is still months away). It can often get discouraging and feel out of reach at times.

Luckily, there are tons of ways to stay focused and keep your spirits high thanks to the amazing community we have on this website. Here are some inspiring travel stories to help keep you inspired to travel:

Additionally, be sure to join our online travel community The Nomadic Network. Not only will you find support (and tons of tips) online, but we also host regular in-person and virtual events all around the world. These are a great way to get inspired, meet other awesome travelers in your area, and get travel advice.

Step 9: Check for Last-Minute Deals

Okay, you’re inspired, prepared, and on your way to saving money for your trip. But before you go buy that flight or book that hotel, check for deals you might have missed. You may dream of Paris but maybe there are great deals to Berlin right now. Or maybe you can get a seven-day cruise for 70% off, a package deal to Hawaii for the price of your flight to Paris, or 50% off sailing trips around Greece.

These days, there is always a deal to be found — especially if you’re flexible with your dates and/or destinations. Some deal websites worth checking out are:

Step 10: Book Your Flight

After you’ve used your travel credit card and received your sign-up bonus, use your miles to book your flight. It is harder to use miles these days due to less availability, so make sure to book early to ensure you get your desired flight.

Fortunately, there are still many ways to avoid being the person on the flight who paid the most for their ticket. My favorite sites for finding cheap airfare are:

For the best deals, book your flight about two-three months in advance. Here are two articles on how to score a cheap flight:

Step 11: Book Your Accommodation

If you’re traveling for under two weeks and have a set schedule, feel free to book accommodation for the duration of your trip if it will give you peace of mind (or if you’re visiting during the high season).

For trips longer than two weeks (or if you are going to be traveling long-term) just book your first few days. That will ensure you have a place to go on arrival. Once there, you can get insider advice from your hotel/hostel staff as well as other travelers. You can then use that info to plan your next steps.

While you can book more than your first few nights, you might end up wanting to change your plans once you land. I prefer having flexibility, which is why I always just book my first few nights and go from there.

Here are my go-to sites when it comes to finding the best deals on accommodation:

If you plan on staying in a lot of hotels during your trip, sign up for a hotel credit card before you depart. Cards like Marriott’s Bonvoy Boundless offer a huge welcome bonus, 6x the points on hotel stays, and a free hotel stay every year. Whenever I stay in a hotel, it’s because I’ve earned it with free points!

If you’re on a tight budget or you want to connect with more locals furing your travels, consider joining platforms like Couchsurfing or BeWelcome. These communities allow travelers to stay with locals for free as a sort of cultural exchange.

Long-term travelers can also try housesitting or WWOOFing as well as they both offer free accommodation (in exchange for pet sitting or farm work respectively).

Step 12: Plan Your Activities

To make sure you have budgeted properly, outline the major activities you want to enjoy during your trip and how much they cost. Make any last-minute adjustments to your savings so you can ensure you have enough money. This will also help you figure out if you need any reservations for your chosen tours or activities.

Search online for discounts as well. While some countries offer cheaper prices in person, others give discounts to those who book early/online. Research which is which for your itinerary so you can save money.

For shorter trips, you can also book your activities in advance to ensure you get tickets. For longer trips, book as you go.

Additionally, before you leave home, have a rough idea of what activities are priorities for you. That way, if you run out of time or money, you can focus on your top activities so you don’t miss out. Also, make sure to double-check that there are no holidays or other obstacles that will prevent you from certain activities as well.

Step 13: Sell Your Stuff

If you are going on a long-term trip (six months or more), consider selling your stuff in order to earn extra money for your trip. Start doing this about 60 days before you leave. Some sites to use are:

If you aren’t going to be gone that long, skip this step. If you are going away long-term but want to keep your stuff, move it to a friend’s house or keep it in storage. A good storage company in the US is Public Storage. It’s one of the most affordable options out there.

Step 14: Automate Your Bills

Get rid of your mail, go paperless, and set up online bill payment for your recurring bills to ensure you won’t miss any while overseas. If you are still going to get paper mail, use a service like Earth Class Mail, which will collect and scan your mail for you. (If you are going on a two-week trip, you don’t really need to worry about this, so you can skip this step, too.)

If you have the option (and don’t want to pay for a mail service), you can also have all your mail sent to a friend or family member.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you cancel any phone plans you have or switch your plan to one that is more travel-friendly. T-Mobile is great for travelers going on trips under 3 months. For any trips longer than that, you’ll want to cancel your plan and just buy SIM cards abroad. That will be much cheaper!

Step 15: Tell Your Card Companies You’re Traveling

No matter how long you’ll be gone, it’s a good idea to let your credit card companies know you will be overseas; that way any transactions that you make aren’t flagged as fraudulent and your card is less likely to be blocked. There’s nothing worse than having to sit on the phone with your credit card company instead of enjoying your vacation.

Also, make sure you have multiple credit cards and debit cards with you. That way, should one card get flagged, lost, or stolen you won’t be left high and dry. I’ve lost cards, had them stolen, and had them flagged many times over the years. Without a backup, I would have been stranded — so plan ahead and bring some backup cards just in case!

Step 16: Pack!

Time to pack for your trip! It can be tempting to want to bring everything with you “just in case” but when it comes to travel, less is more. You don’t need 5 sweaters or 8 pairs of shoes. You can get by with less, I promise. it’s actually quite liberating once you get used to it!

I travel with a 45L REI bag and then a smaller day bag.

Unless you’re heading to multiple climates and need bulky winter gear, you don’t need a massive 70L bag stuffed to the top. Here’s my suggested packing list to help you take just the right amount of stuff and avoid overpacking (here’s a list for female travelers as well).

While what you pack will depend on where you are going, remember that you don’t need to pack everything you own. You can buy things you need on the road. You can do laundry overseas. At the end of the day, you have to carry everything you bring. So bring less!

There are a few extra items you might want to pack beyond your everyday clothes, though. Some things I like to bring with me are:

Additionally, make sure you bring any prescriptions with you so you have enough for the duration of your trip. If that’s not feasible, bring a doctor’s note and prescription with you so you can fill it abroad. ***

By using this post as a guideline for your trip planning, you can better organize and prepare for your trip. You’ll check all the boxes, not miss anything, and have plenty of money for your vacation. It can be as simple as booking a flight and packing or as complex as rearranging your entire life to go backpack the world forever.

But, no matter how long your trip may be, this list will help you stay organized and motivated as you plan your trip and step and out into the world.

P.S. – Yes, I did leave out visas and vaccinations, because needing those isn’t as universal as the other stuff on this list, but don’t forget to check if you need those, too!

My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off the beaten path, save money, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

How To Plan A Trip In 5 Simple Steps

It is an adventure you’ve always dreamt of, but haven’t been able to plan and execute properly. Here are some useful pointers on how to plan a trip, that put an end to the cluttered chaos by streamlining your vacations to perfect harmony and pure bliss.

Vacations often start off as a wonderful idea and then eventually end up being a nightmare to manage. Often overlooked, a lot of thought and brainstorming goes into perfectly organizing touring plans. The lack of know-how on how to plan a trip often reflects during “unseen hurdles” on a vacation.

With a little bit of preparation and effort in maintaining a personalized trip planner, travelers can overcome 90% of their difficulties they may face during a trip. Here are some handy trip planning tips that will keep your prepared for the proverbial rainy-day.

1. Pick your destination

It all probably emanates from either some stunning pics gone viral on social media, the scenic setting of a movie, or an irresistible story of a friend’s last trip abroad. Touring plans, more often than not, are triggered by external factors.

Things to keep in mind before selecting a destination

2. Decide the duration of your trip

There is a fine line between getting bored and enjoying every moment at a destination. However, no destination has a predefined ideal duration. It often depends on the touring plans and purpose of the visit of the travelers. Some travelers like to see new cities every day, whereas some travelers prefer taking it slow by witnessing and enjoying the subtle nuances of places they visit. This is a key aspect of your trip planning which can help your itinerary and budget both.

Things to keep in mind before deciding the duration of a trip

3. Book flights, train, or bus tickets, and accommodation

After the ideation is complete, booking tickets for your flight, train or bus transfer well in advance is an important step in learning how to plan your trip to perfection. Since flight and train tickets are subject to availability and prices rise over time, getting the bookings done a few months in advance will help you avoid additional costs on your initial budget. Whether you are planning to explore the hidden places in Goa or savour the local flavour of Rajasthan, advance booking can help you with a hassle-free journey.

Things to keep in mind while booking transfers and accommodation

4. Plan the day-wise activities and course of action

It always sounds fascinating and adventurous when touring plans are made on a sudden impulse and gut feel. However, the downside of going on such trips is that there could be many days where the scheduling can go haywire because of everything being so last-minute.

Things to keep in mind while planning day-wise activities

5. Pack diligently and make all the necessary adjustments

After the bookings are done, it is always advisable for your trip planning to pack your stuff keeping in mind the destination and the influence of external factors on it. The unpredictability of weather, socio-political scenario, or a festive season can adversely affect travel plans. In order to avoid alteration of touring plans due to these scenarios, travelers should do a bit of research before starting their vacation.

Things to keep in mind while packing for a vacation

Vacations are experiences that change people for the good. With a better understanding of how to plan a trip, travelers can enjoy their sojourns without any malice or unfortunate occurrence. Book a tour package to your dream destination with TravelTriangle and enjoy a responsible, thoughtful, and considerate way of traveling.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Trip Planning In India

Which are some of the offbeat destinations to plan budget trips in India?

What are some of the best tips to keep in mind while planning budget trips in India?

Which destinations in India can be explored at a very low budget?

There are some incredible places in India that can be explored at a very low budget. Some of them are:
1. Pushkar
2. Ooty
3. Lonavala
4. Nainital
5. Rishikesh
6. Hampi

Is it safe for visiting the Digha during Covid-19 spread?

Even though there is the spread of virus, there are still people coming over to visit this place and this is one of the most interesting facts about travellers. The travel and tourism industry in Indian has been affected by the virus but at the same time if people take proper care of themselves and keep themselves sanitized, then the unnecessary spread can be stopped.

Which place is best to travel for 2-3 days in India?

The best place for a 2-3 days trip in India would depend on your location. If you are located in North Delhi, then Shimla and Jaipur would be a good choice. For people living in South India, Mysore and Coorg must be on the list. For West India, head to Alibaug or Mahabaleshwar. Northeast Indians can head to Pelling or Darjeeling. And East Indians would love to visit Sunderbans or Puri.

What is the best place to visit in South India with a low budget for a 3 to 4 days tour?

Hampi, Coorg, and Ooty are some of the best places to visit in South India if you are a budget traveler.

Is India expensive to visit?

India is one of the cheapest destinations in the world to travel to. It is also considered as the best honeymoon destination in the world. If you’re backpacking across India, you can survive on INR 100 per day.

Which is the cheapest city in India?

Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore are arguably the cheapest cities in India. It is affordable for a majority of the Indian citizens to rent out a place in these metro cities. Also, the dining options here are pretty cheap as compared to other metro cities.

Which Indian city is costly?

Mumbai is the most expensive city in India. The city is better known as the home of Bollywood, the city of dreams, and the economic capital of India. If you’re staying in Mumbai, your daily budget will exceed INR 500-1,000.

How can I travel cheap in India?

If you plan to travel cheap in India, you can live for free at an ashram in Pondicherry, drink at shacks in Goa that serve vodka shots for INR 60 per glass, travel by state-owned buses in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and prefer staying at homestays.

Is India safe to visit?

The crime levels are moderate in India. Having said that, the safety of women is a matter of grave concern in the country. If you’re a solo female traveler in India, we suggest you take precautionary measures. Carry a pepper spray or Swiss knife with you at all times.

How much does a meal cost in India?

A meal in India costs INR 100 at street joints, INR 250-500 at medium-level restaurants, and over INR 1,000 at upscale restaurants. Make sure you taste the local street food while you’re in India. The flavor and the aroma of Indian cuisine is distinct and usually hits all your senses.

Which is the cheapest country to visit from India?

There are various countries that you can consider visiting from India on a low budget. Some of them have been listed below:
1. Malaysia
2. Sri Lanka
3. Bhutan
4. Nepal
5. Thailand
6. Laos
7. Singapore

How to Plan a Trip: 7 Easy Tips for Your Next Adventure

Planning a trip is an exciting part of your new upcoming travel adventure. It’s not for everyone as some swear by only booking a flight ticket. Nevertheless, when planning a trip, there’s a lot to think about, like getting a visa, your vaccinations, and figuring out an itinerary. It can be stressful and time-consuming; however, by following these 7 tips on how to plan a trip, you’ll be on your stress-free holiday before you know it!

1. Plan a trip budget

The very first thing you have to do to plan a trip, and the most important, is deciding how much money you want to spend on your next adventure. Your travel budget will have a big impact on how you plan your trip, like where you can travel to and for how long.

On a small budget, visit countries that are cheap to travel in, like Laos or Thailand. Shorten your holiday to be able to visit more expensive countries like Portugal or Italy. Alternatively, spend less on flights and travel by car or train by having a holiday close to home.

2. Choose a destination

Now you’ve set your budget, the next thing to decide is to which awesome country you will be traveling. Make that decision by answering these quick questions:

What kind of trip do you like to plan?

It’s a good idea to think about your favorite things to do or the best travels you’ve had in the past. Do you enjoy adventure or relaxation? City or countryside? Or maybe you want to try something completely new? Some countries might be able to offer more than one type of trip, but it’s good to plan a trip according to these categories. For example:

Adventure– looking for action and heart-pumping experiences? Choose countries that have plenty of outdoor sports and thrilling landscapes. Anywhere in Asia is an excellent option for activities like hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, jungle trekking, surfing, or diving.

Relaxation– picturing yourself lying on the beautiful soft white sand, swinging in a hammock, whilst sipping on coconuts under the breezy palm trees? If so, then choose countries that are famous for their heavenly beaches or islands. Such as the Maldives, Thailand, or Greece.

Culture- if you love to learn while on your travels, plan a trip to a country with an interesting history or well-preserved traditions. For example, Cambodia, Oman, or Peru. Understanding a country’s culture and meeting the local people is one of the best parts of traveling!

Food– think choosing a destination based on food is silly? Think again! Trying local foods is one of the most delicious and enjoyable parts of traveling. Plan a trip based on your foodie favorites. For example, India, Italy, or Indonesia. Yum!

Transport– many countries are famous specifically for beautiful journeys. For example, the well-renowned train journey from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka, the legendary motorbike loops in Vietnam, or the mesmerizing silk road in Uzbekistan.

What time of year are you traveling?

Chances are you have probably booked a specific time off work. Therefore, to plan a trip, you’ll need to think about seasons and which country is best to visit at that particular time of year. For example:

What are the Visa requirements?

Before planning to visit another country, it’s important to check the visa requirements for your nationality. In some cases, a travel document is required to enter the country of destination.

3. Location research

Research is key when planning a trip, especially when you are plan to travel around a country. Use the following resources to do your research:

Plan a trip using Pinterest and Instagram

Pinterest and Instagram are an excellent way of finding blogs and photo inspiration for destinations. Search for your destination using the hashtags or the search bar. This is a great way to find hidden gems that you otherwise might not find out about.

Use travel blogs and guides to plan a trip

Read, read, read! Using travel blogs and travel guides on the internet is a great way to develop ideas of what you want to see in a certain country.

We have numerous travel guides based on our travel experiences ready for you! Find your destination here.

18 Simple Steps To Plan Your Next Trip Or Vacation

Posted on Last updated: August 18, 2020

I always love planning my next trip during my free time. I haven’t met one person in my lifetime who didn’t have a desire to travel.

Some people had a stronger wish to see more countries but there was never an individual that didn’t say traveling was a goal of theirs.

Although this is my personal experience, I would wager that a vast majority of people wish to see at least one other country and culture.

There is something liberating and exciting about packing a bag, buying a flight, and hitting the open road. Unfortunately, many people are distracted or discouraged by all of the requirements for planning a vacation.

In an attempt to help people navigate this red tape, I have compiled a list of steps you can take to travel. Here are 18 steps for teaching you how to plan a vacation:

Step 1: Choose A Destination

Choosing a destination is the first step in planning a trip. Many people are too vague when they talk about traveling. In this way, travel becomes more of an idea than a fixed decision.

Defining a destination is the best way to solidify your desire to travel. A destination can be a clear goal for which to work. It’s easier to work towards a trip to Rome. Nobody can begin planning a trip to “somewhere” without wasting time and resources.

Choosing a destination is the beginning of the realization of your dream to travel. Without this first step, you may be wondering how to plan a trip forever.

Step 2: Determine A Length For The Trip

NUM LPPHOTO / Shutterstock

When planning a vacation, many people worry about the cost too early along in the planning process. Without first determining a length for a trip, it is nearly impossible to estimate the costs.

Once you’ve determined a location for your vacation, it is time to choose a length of time. Some people will have a pre-determined vacation length due to work or other professional constraints.

For those who don’t have these restrictions, visas or savings may also help determine the length of a trip. No matter how long you choose to travel, it is important to have a defined length to simplify the rest of the planning process.

Step 3: Conduct Research On Costs And Expenses

Now that you’ve determined the location and length of your trip, it’s time to conduct some research regarding costs. It’s very difficult to determine the cost of a trip without learning more about the destination.

The style of your travels will also help determine the overall cost of the trip. For example, travelers who want to stay in nice resorts and eat at expensive restaurants will end up spending more.

On the other hand, budget backpackers who sleep in hostels and eat at street stalls will spend much less. Once you decide on a traveling style, you’ve got to understand the costs that your trip will incur (i.e. cost of restaurants, hotels, attractions, hostels, etc.)

This information will help you estimate the price of your trip overall. Here are a few travel tips for determining the costs of your trip by location:

These resources should provide more than enough information to develop an accurate estimate of your trip’s overall cost. There’s a plethora of information online regarding prices for restaurants, attractions, hostels, and groceries in locations around the world.

Avoid the temptation to go overboard in the planning process.

Here’s an example:

This provides you with a clear goal for which to aim when planning and saving for the trip. You will always be wondering how to plan a trip if this step isn’t covered.

Step 4: Start Making And Saving Money

After you’ve determined the overall cost of your trip, it’s time to collect that amount of money. It’s advisable to keep a detailed list of your weekly and monthly expenses to have a clear idea of where your money is being spent.

This also makes it easier to determine in which areas spending can be cut or eliminated altogether. People tend to incur a lot of unnecessary expenses on a daily basis.

Although these smaller expenses may seem minuscule in comparison to the cost of your trip overall, each dollar counts. You may not realize how much money can be saved until you cut these expenses.

It’s a great idea to breakdown your required savings into a daily amount.

Step 5: Apply For Travel Rewards Credit Cards

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Every credit card comes with some added benefits. While some of these focus on cashback rewards, there are others that offer travel deals. When saving for a trip, it’s important to sign up for some of these travel credit cards in order to receive their benefits.

There are credit cards that offer free hotel stays, discounted flights, restaurant deals, and more. Many cards offer 50,000 points/miles or more towards their flight programs after you exceed their spending requirements.

It’s important to sign up for a card that offers the rewards which you prefer. If you want to earn a free flight, sign up for cards associated with airlines. If you prefer to have free hotel stays, apply for a hotel card.

It’s not necessary to sign up for every credit card that offers travel rewards. It’s better to choose a few that are pertinent to your personal needs and preferences.

A majority of the “professional” travelers have mastered the art of collecting miles and points through credit cards that offer travel rewards. Utilizing these cards correctly could mean the difference between a week-long vacation and years of travel.

Step 6: Find An ATM Card That Doesn’t Charge Fees

Although larger expenses will take a larger chunk of money, the real enemies to your savings account are small, reoccurring expenses. ATM fees are an example of these small charges that should be avoided at all costs.

Before embarking on your trip, it’s important to find a card that doesn’t charge fees to withdraw money from an ATM. Charles Schwab and banks within the Global ATM Alliance don’t charge these fees.

Step 7: Remain Inspired And Focused

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Planning for a trip can be a daunting and stressful process. This is especially true when your family members or friends aren’t enthusiastic about your vacation. Unfortunately, this lack of support often leads many people to lose their own excitement and desire to travel.

It’s important to remain inspired and focused before your trip begins. Luckily, there are many ways to keep that flame alive before embarking on your journeys.

Here are a few of these methods:

Step 8: Look For Last-Minute Discounts And Deals

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Before you purchase a flight or book a hotel, it’s important to look for last-minute discounts or deals. If you find the right offer, you could save hundreds on your vacation.

Even though you’ve already chosen a destination, it can’t hurt to look for last-minute deals. You might find an offer that’s too good to pass up.

Instead of a trip to Rome, you may opt for a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean that is 50% off. These deals are often good enough to make travelers reconsider their chosen destination.

Flexibility is one of the most important factors of a successful and budget traveler. It’s a large planet, and there are endless places to visit. If you end up choosing destination B over destination A, you can still have an amazing vacation.

If you’re a flexible traveler, you could save a significant amount of money. These savings can be put towards a longer vacation.

Here are a few websites that are worth checking for last-minute discounts and deals:

Step 9: Take Care Of Any Country-Specific Requirements

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Each country is going to have specific requirements that may differ from other destinations. Visas and vaccinations are the most important requirements to keep in mind when planning your dream vacation.

For example, most countries in Europe don’t require U.S. citizens to apply for a visa. Instead, a U.S. passport acts as a tourist visa. However, other countries such as China and Nepal require U.S. citizens to apply for a visa in order to enter the country.

The same is true in regards to some vaccinations. There are some countries that require proof of vaccinations upon arrival.

It’s imperative that you check any country-specific requirements before embarking on your flights.

Step 10: Book The Flight

After you’ve applied for the travel credit card and met the minimum spending limit, you should receive your reward miles.

In the past, it was easy to book flights using these miles or points without any hassle. Today, the process is slightly more difficult due to a lack of availability. More travelers have started participating in these reward programs.

In order to find the best deals, it’s important to book a flight well in advance. Spending reward miles is the same as spending money on a flight. With each passing day, more travelers will purchase tickets on the same flight and the ticket prices will rise.

When redeeming points for a flight, the cost of the ticket will show in points instead of dollars. The cost of the ticket in points will continue to rise the longer you wait to purchase the ticket.

In order to find your desired flight at an affordable rate, it’s crucial to book ahead of time.

Fortunately, there are many resources that can be used to save money on a flight. Here are a few of the best sites to use when searching for a flight:

In order to find the cheapest deals, it’s important to book your flight at least two months before the departure date.

Step 11: Book The Accommodation

Once your flights have been confirmed, you can safely book your accommodation. It’s advisable to wait until your flight bookings have been confirmed. A delay or schedule change by even a day could cost a lot of money.

Booking accommodation after your flight dates have been confirmed helps to protect against these potential issues.

If you’re traveling with a fixed schedule, it’s important to book all of your accommodation before leaving. This will result in better deals, more availability, and lower prices overall.

If your trip will last longer than a few weeks, it’s enough to book accommodation for the first few days.

Once your travel dates are determined, there’s no reason to wait for booking accommodation.

If you love to stay in hotels, you should consider signing up for loyalty programs or hotel credit cards to save some money in the long run. Although hotel rooms are cozier and more convenient, they are also significantly more expensive.

Marriott has an excellent rewards card that offers a hefty sign-up bonus equivalent to a one week’s stay. Starwood offers an American Express card with excellent deals as well, but the spending threshold for this card is significantly higher.

Here’s a list of the best sites for finding cheap accommodation:

For those budget travelers who desire accommodation for free, there are some viable alternatives. You can start by contacting hosts on site like WWOOF, Be Welcome, or Couchsurfing and ask if they will host you for a night or two.

Step 12: Plan Some Activities

No vacation would be complete without some fun activities. It’s helpful to outline some of the places you want to see and activities which you’d like to do.

Prepping this outline before a trip will make it more likely that each activity can be done. This preparation will also help you decide if any budget adjustments are required.

Step 13: Sell Your Belongings

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If you’re planning to travel for more than six months, you should consider selling some belongings. This will accomplish a few worthwhile goals.

First and foremost, you’ll have some extra cash to spend on vacation. You may be surprised by how much money all of your stuff is worth. Secondly, you won’t have to pay for storage while you’re gone.

Here are some excellent sites for selling your stuff:

Step 14: Automate The Bills

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Even though you may be leaving for a trip, that doesn’t mean other aspects of your life will change as well.

Before you leave for a trip, set up all of your mail for paperless options. You should also contact your bank to set up automated bill payments. This simplified the payment process and ensures you don’t miss any due fees when traveling.

If you still need to receive paper mail, you can use a service like Earth Class Mail. These services will open and scan your mail while you’re traveling.

If you’re only planning to travel for a few weeks, these steps may not be necessary.

Although some people choose to make these changes without traveling. Online mail is much faster, easier, and more environmentally friendly.

Step 15: Notify Your Credit Card Companies

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There’s nothing more frustrating or potentially hazardous than having your credit card flagged during a trip. Credit card companies often utilize automatic blocks on cards when they are used abroad. This is a way to keep users safe from hackers.

However, having your card blocked during vacation could be an unintended consequence of these protections. In order to ensure you always have access to a card abroad, it’s imperative to notify your credit card companies.

Most companies will ask which countries you’re traveling to and lift the protections for these places.

Step 16: Pack, Pack, Pack

Most travelers have mixed feelings about packing. Although it’s an exciting step in the traveling process, it can also be stressful reducing your belongings for a trip.

It’s important to find a balance between having what you need and packing too much. Overpacking will lead to uncomfortable walks, higher transportation fees, and an overall hassle that can be avoided by taking less.

You can always buy more items abroad if you forget something important. It’s more difficult to get rid of belongings if you have taken too much.

A good rule of thumb when packing is to remove 20% of what you pack originally. The leftover amount should be enough for a trip lasting a few months.

Less is certainly more when you consider how long you’ll have to drag this bag around while on vacation.

Step 17: Buy Travel Insurance For Coverage

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Many people make the mistake of forgetting about travel insurance or forgoing the coverage altogether. Some individuals don’t think their chances of getting sick on vacation are high. In their eyes, there is no reason to buy travel insurance while on vacation.

It’s important to realize that travel insurance covers much more than sick visits or regular doctors appointments. When you travel for longer periods of time, you’ll need much more than medical protection.

This type of insurance covers travelers when their luggage is stolen, a flight is delayed or canceled, an expensive computer breaks, and much more. Most travel insurance will even cover a flight home if a family member gets sick.

Travel insurance is a must-have for travelers to a foreign country. You don’t know what could happen, and a majority of health plans that operate in the U.S. won’t be able to cover you abroad.

I never expected my eardrum to pop while scuba diving or lost my camera in Prague. My friend didn’t expect to break his foot while hiking. Another friend of mine certainly didn’t think her friend would pass away, and she would have to fly home so early into her trip.

Travel insurance is a minimal cost that can end up saving you thousands of dollars if something bad were to happen. Fortunately, there are many different providers that can customize a plan for your particular trip.

For example, a trip to the Himalayas will require coverage in higher altitudes than a trip to Guam. It’s important to consider what you’ll be doing on the vacation to determine what kind of coverage is sufficient for your particular case.

World Nomads is my favorite provider of travel insurance. I have been using this platform for over 10 years and have never had any issues.

For those travelers older than 70, Insure My Trip is the best provider for seasoned travelers.

Step 18: Have Fun On Your Trip

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While there are many blogs for teaching readers how to plan a vacation, a majority of these websites forget about the most important component of traveling: having fun.

Once you’ve finalized all of your bookings and activities, it’s time to focus on enjoying the trip. You may be surprised by how many people spend months or years dreaming about a vacation only to hate it in the end.

While some people genuinely have bad experiences abroad, many of these travelers suffer from a poor attitude or bad perspective.

Taking your dream trip can be the most exciting and exhilarating experience of your life. However, it takes some positive thinking, patience, and a proactive attitude.

Next time you’re stuck wondering how to plan a vacation, use these 18 steps to make the process much easier.

In fact, you should share these strategies with any friend or family member who isn’t sure how to plan a trip.

How To Plan A Trip For Beginners: A Step-By-Step Guide

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Travel magazines and TV shows would have you think that planning the perfect overseas holiday trip is a walk in the park. In reality, though, most people find themselves overwhelmed trying to weave flights and hotel bookings, visa applications and currency swaps into a sensible plan. With so many things to take care of, your vacation starts to look more like a dirty kitchen than an opportunity to relax.

So how about a detailed guide to take the stress off your plate? Read on to find out how to plan a trip successfully from end to end, and consequently turn your dream holiday into reality.

1. Choose Your Destination

Erm, shouldn’t this be simplest part?

You have a whole world of options, pretty much, and you could literally spin the globe if you need help narrowing them down. Or perhaps you’ve already decided where exactly you’ll be going — it’s the one reason why you’re planning this trip, isn’t it?

Well, such decisions aren’t always as straightforward. For starters, few — if any — places on your bucket list will be travel-friendly at any given time of the year. You don’t want your dream holiday turning into a fiasco just because you didn’t take into account the location’s current weather. Do your homework and find out if the conditions will be conducive for your stay, or whether you might be better off vacationing elsewhere.

Also figure out what kind of experience you’re aiming for. Do you want an adventurous, thrill-packed getaway, or a more conservative, laid-back retreat? Once again, a little research will be necessary to help you pick the most suitable place for your aspirations.

Visa requirements are yet another factor to keep in mind when choosing where you’ll be going. Some countries have lengthy application processes, and it may not be possible to obtain a visa on short notice. If it seems like you’ll waste too many precious vacation days waiting for the green light, feel free to tour someplace else — being flexible is key when you’re making holiday plans.

An open mind would also come in handy if you haven’t yet decided where you want to go. Again, your preferences will play a huge part in determining your destination — keep them in mind as you scout various possibilities. Check out travel magazines, along with travel blogs and social media channels, if you need some inspiration. At the very least, browsing through these channels will give you a bunch of options to work off. If you’re lucky, though, you might happen upon an interesting place you previously hadn’t considered. I also suggest checking out Lonely Planet’s travel guides or my fave: Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book!

2. Decide How Long You’ll Be Staying

Is it gonna be a month, a couple of weeks, or just the weekend? The length of your trip will be a huge factor in everything you do from this point onward. Ergo, the earlier you figure it out, the easier your planning will be.

On that note, let’s look at some of the variables that will factor in your decision:

Mulling over these aspects for a while should help you allocate a concrete timeframe for your travels. The goal is to plan as much time as you need to enjoy the destination, but without lingering too long. Like with everything, quality trumps quantity as far as memorable experiences are concerned.

3. Figure Out Your Travel Budget

It’ll be difficult to have fun if you’ll be constantly worrying about your finances throughout the length of your trip. On the other hand, you don’t want uncontrolled spending opening up the floodgates of regret when you come back home. Or worse, to find yourself stranded without cash in goodness-knows-where. All that can be avoided with a detailed, carefully-planned budget.

Now, there are those who believe in making travel plans around a firm budget (i.e. budgeting as the very first step). This might make sense if you’re aiming for the cheapest possible getaway — for whatever reason. However, building your budget around a destination and timeframe will allow you set a more realistic budget, and get the most bang for your buck too.

And now that you’ve already decided on location and duration, you’re in the right position to crunch the numbers for the following:

Do note that a travel budget is meant to serve more as a guide, rather than a rigid ruleset. Your projected expenditure will be based on estimates and incomplete information to a significant extent. Chances are that you’ll need to revise and re-assess your priorities at some point, so it helps to be flexible. This step may seem overwhelming or scary but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, I’ve went ahead and written a post so you can create a realistic travel budget and stick with it!

4. Research Flights and Dates

Creating a workable travel schedule requires that you determine your arrival and departure dates first. Because flight ticket availability and pricing tend to vary wildly over time, you want to start off your research early. Use online flight comparison tools to find out what flights you can use to get to your destination, their prices, as well as departure/arrival times.

Be particularly conscious of arrival times — you want your first moments upon touchdown to be as facile as possible. Try to imagine how you’ll find your way around a foreign city at a particular time of day. Can you do so without assistance in the middle of the night? Do you even speak the local tongue in the first place?

Once you consider such factors, it becomes clear that the cheapest tickets (red-eyes, specifically) might not be your best bet. There’s no sense flying on the lowest fare only to cough up a premium for the cab ride to your hotel or, worse, lose your luggage. So instead of narrowing down options by price alone, prioritize your comfort and convenience.

Look out for flights that will depart and arrive at reasonable times around the date your trip is set to begin, but don’t make any reservations just yet. Not before you’ve worked out your travel itinerary.

5. Create Your Itinerary

You’ve done all the hard work (well, at least most of it) and made some difficult decision, so now the fun can begin! Planning for all the interesting things you’re going to, as well as places to see, will turn your trip from a laundry list into something to look forward to — as counter-intuitive as it sounds.

More significantly, an itinerary will help you go through each day smoothly, and facilitate a seamless transition between days/locations. As a result, you’re able to make the most of your precious holiday time.

To build your schedule, start by listing the cities you will be touring in each country, along with their respective sights/activities. As highlighted earlier, it helps to pick things that will excite or fascinate you the most. And as a rule of thumb, you’ll need two to four days to explore each city/location. There’s no harm allocating more time to places you like, but you’ll want to avoid single-day stays. Even if it’s in a small town, the hassle of packing, unpacking, and traveling in between just isn’t worth it.

At this point, you should be able to mesh these locations into a sensible schedule. Use a map to figure out where you’ll go first, second, and so on, keeping transit times between places in consideration. Once again, feel free to drop any city that’s not worth fitting into your itinerary, given your limited holiday time.

The next step is to map each day with things to do in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night wherever applicable. Again, it helps to group attractions and activities by proximity. This level of focus will allow you to fine-tune your budget by accounting for food, fares, entry fees, and spending money. You’ll also want to find out if there are any holidays that could throw a wrench in your plans and, by extension, interesting events you could slot into your itinerary.

Consider leaving out a free day for such impromptu attractions. You never know what interesting sight or activity you’ll find on location. I sometimes find impromptu activities when I’m looking through Airbnb Experiences or if I’m posting my adventures on Instagram and a commenter offers a suggested place to see, eat, shop or explore. Otherwise, this unscheduled time will come in handy in case you need to change plan. And it’s at this point that we must reiterate the need for agility in your planning. Your itinerary, much like your budget, is by no means a binding contract.

6. Book Everything

Crafting an itinerary is only half the battle; you need to lock everything in place by making all the relevant reservations:

7. Tie Up Loose Ends

Eagerly looking forward to your departure date, aren’t you? Well, you’re not ready to take off just yet. There are still a few things you need to take care of before you can even start packing:

8. Get Packing…

Much can be said about booking hotels and flight seats, but nothing better puts you in travel mode like a packed suitcase! On the other hand, packing often proves the most frustrating phase of holiday planning. Determining what to bring/leave out is difficult enough without stringent airline weight restrictions.

So trust us when we say the lesser, the better. Especially when it comes to clothes and shoes — you might actually be fine with half the amount you think you’ll need. Let’s help you put that into action:

For the other stuff you’ll need to carry besides clothing, it’d help to create a packing list. Again, try to keep the ‘dead weight’ minimal. Prioritize essential items and leave out anything you could purchase once you arrive.

And now that you’ve figured out what you’ll be bringing for your trip, you can get started with the actual packing:

Be sure to pack well ahead of your departure date. The earlier you get it done, the less stressful it is, and the lower the chances of forgetting something crucial.

…And Enjoy Your Time Away

Well, get going already! All the hard work is done, so now the fun can begin — and this time we really mean it. Strap your seatbelt and get ready to relax, soak up all the beautiful scenes, and turn every moment of your holiday trip into a memorable experience. Have a blast!

The Ultimate Travel Planner Kit

Do you struggle with organizing a trip?… Or maybe you have trouble sticking with a vacation budget? I can help you in making sure that every single moment of your vacation is perfectly organized and memorable when you use my Travel Planner. This 23-page ultimate travel planning kit are the exact printables I use to plan and organize my own travel trips.

Use it to help you save money and get organized before your next adventure so you can focus on what you’re vacationing for: FUN and RELAXATION!